Mail Call - Jan. 2

"I was glad to see on Dec. 30 in Mail Call, information about Christmas. It is true, Christmas traditions started about 400 A.D. It was never a commandment, but a tradition — but a good tradition."

— Hagerstown

"I see where the City of Hagerstown, the mayor and council, they can build bicycle trails, they can be in the real estate business, but they can't hire any policemen. This town is full of criminals, and they'll have no policemen. They can't afford it, but they can afford everything else. They buy buildings that they can't use, they got too many buildings now. So let's change this city council and get rid of this mayor. Let's think about it. Let's get this city straightened out."

— Hagerstown

"All of our cities are strapped for money when we are faced with disasters. It is not New York City's fault about ambulances and snowplows getting stuck in snow. I saw a panel of top businessmen in the U.S. They were asked their opinion of how to get out of this recession. One said, 'Get out of these wars, and first, put America first, before giving millions ... We cannot afford to solve all the problems, world's problems. We cannot keep borrowing to give away.'"

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— Williamsport

"This is to the caller from Hagerstown, said it's ridiculous to suggest that Christ wasn't born on Dec. 25. Go to the library, get the books. It'll tell you right there. If you don't like to read, go to your computer and I'm sure you can find it. But trust me, Jesus Christ was not born Dec. 25. I know it upsets you because now you feel you've been lied to for centuries. It's the truth. I'm sorry. Truth don't lie."

— Hagerstown

"I cannot believe that the Maryland university powers that be let this new AD, athletic director, fire (Ralph) Friedgen and pay him $2 million for next year. Why didn't they let the man coach another year out and finish out his term, and scot-free, and then decide what to do? But jump the gun right away in doing that. To me, it's a big waste of money, hollering about they can't fill the stands. ... The man done a pretty reasonable job, and I don't know why they fired him to begin with."

— Hagerstown

"The drivers' on Route 11 in Williamsport speed seems to be increasing. I wanted to know has the police thought about putting up speed traps on Route 11. State police used to monitor that route, but I have not seen them in months. What is gonna be done, and what can be done about that?"

— Williamsport

"To the nice Jewish girl who wished us all a Merry Christmas from Sharpsburg: Thank you for your kind greetings. I wish you and your family blessings in the new year, in the name of Yeshua."

— Williamsport

"To the caller from Hagerstown who says, 'The senators were in front of (Nancy) Pelosi begging to drill for oil.': Do your homework. Rep. Pelosi is the Speaker of the House of Representatives (for the next four days). She has no control over the Senate, and the senators do not need her permission for anything. The Founding Fathers planned it that way."

— Chambersburg, Pa.

"I don't dream up this stuff on my own. I read the books of people who write and record history. But if you want to teach culture in the schools, teach the young about the culture they will inherit from 400 years of Anglo-Saxon American struggle, a struggle for freedom of all the people of the whole world. The latest victory, just six words, 'Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.' God bless us all."

— Hagerstown

"Lady who needs disability: I have never known anyone receive disability without a lawyer. Yellow pages is filled with these type lawyers. You pay nothing if the lawyer loses case. You may make more working, as disability isn't all that great. Chambersburg, I may have called Congressman (Steny) Hoyer a senator. Facts remain the same. He 'suggested' freezing military pay. Like most Demos, they cut corners on the ones need it and give to those who don't — like themselves."

— Waynesboro, Pa.

"You know what I really don't understand? You work, like me, 47 years, and I'm still working part time, and I get Social Security, but two years in a row we don't get a cost-of-living allowance. But some people never worked a day in their lives, they get food stamps, they get Section 8. Me, I would never want anything like that. I want to pay for whatever I get from this government, right? And they live how they want to live, when we have to struggle."

— Williamsport

"Too bad the anointed one doesn't spend more time worrying about how to fix our economy than his golf game and whether Michael Vick should be playing football or not."

— Maugansville

"In response to the callers from Fairfield and Greencastle, do I believe that God created the universe? Certainly. Do I believe that God made a pile of dirt, blew on it and called it man? Well, that would explain the IQ level of some of the comments in this column."

— Hagerstown

"People complain about how much retirement they get when they retire from a job. I worked ... in Ranson, W.Va., for almost 30 years. My retirement is $120 a month. ... That's not very good."

— Martinsburg, W.Va.

"This is to the caller from Sharpsburg complaining about the whiners in Mail Call. I don't know if you realize it, but you are a whiner, as you whine about the whiners in Mail Call. Why don't you get a life, and go get some cheese for your whine."